Feel Like You’re Not Trying Hard Enough? Here’s the Truth About Motivation

 

Friend, your lack of motivation isn't the problem—and you're NOT failing.

Okay, Confession Time…

Last summer? I had THE plan.
You know the one. The gloriously idealistic, Pinterest-worthy, color-coded summer schedule for my kids with:

• Daily reading time
  
  
• Educational games
  
  
• Plenty of outdoor adventures
  
  
• And—miraculously—blocks of quiet time for me to work while they entertained themselves like the sweet little angels I imagined they’d be 🙃
  
  

And for like… two weeks? It actually worked. 🎉

But then… reality.
The schedule got tossed aside, the activities weren’t quite as exciting anymore, and those "quiet" work blocks? They turned into:

“Mom, can you help me?”
“Mom, I need a snack!”
“Mooom, look! I can stand on my head!”

Every. Five. Minutes. ⌚

And I remember sitting there wondering:
“Why can’t I just stick with this? What’s wrong with me?”

But here’s the thing I want you to hear loud and clear:

It wasn’t about trying harder.

It was about expecting a plan to work under perfect conditions and with constant motivation.

Whew. Let that sink in for a second. 💭
Sound familiar?

Maybe your version of this isn’t a summer schedule—maybe it’s trying to perfectly follow an intuitive eating plan, sticking to rigid food rules, or hoping motivation will magically help you eat "right" and feel better in your body.

But when motivation fizzles (as it inevitably does), you feel like you failed.

Friend, you are not failing. You’re just missing the truth about how progress actually works.

Let’s unpack that truth together. 👇

🚫 Motivation Isn’t Required to Make Progress

Say what now?!

I know. That probably sounds backward from everything you’ve been taught in the diet culture world or even in traditional wellness spaces. But hear me out.

Let’s use a simple analogy:

Brushing your teeth. 🪥

You don’t need to feel hyped up or wait for a pep talk to brush your teeth, right?
You just do it. It’s a habit, not an emotional decision.

You’re not standing in your bathroom like:

“Okayyy, YES. I am SO pumped right now to brush these molars!” 🙌

Nope. You do it because it’s part of your day. It’s automatic. It’s built on intention and repetition, not on a constant motivational high.

👉 Why it matters:
If you're sitting around waiting to feel ready before you make changes—waiting until life slows down, until the kids are back in school, or until summer ends—you’ll be waiting forever.

Motivation is like a wave.
But you don’t ride the wave—you build the boat so you can keep going even when the waves are crashing. 🌊

And building the boat? That’s about structure, not sudden inspiration.

🧭 What You Actually Need: A Solid Plan That Accounts for Real Life

You don’t need more motivation—you need a real-life strategy that doesn’t fall apart the second your day doesn’t go as planned. (And let’s be honest—when does a day ever go perfectly?)

Here’s what a solid plan includes:

1. Your Deeper “Why”

It’s not enough to say “I want to feel better in my body” or “I want to stop obsessing over food.”

You’ve got to go deeper.

Ask yourself:

• Why do I want to feel more confident?
  
  
• Why does [insert your answer to the previous question] matter to me?
  
  
• What’s underneath that?
  
  

Keep digging until you hit something that tugs at your soul.
THAT’S the kind of why that fuels sustainable change.

2. External Support (aka - your people)

Yes, self-accountability is important. But let’s be real:
We all have our limits.

When you’re parenting, working, and carrying the mental load of a small country, you need outside support—someone to cheer you on, yes, but also to lovingly call you out when you're stuck spinning your wheels.

(👋 Shoutout to the moms who know what it’s like to tag their husband in after their nervous system’s had enough for the day.)

3. A Strategy for When Things Go Sideways

Let’s be honest. Life is basically just a series of plan B’s.

And if your food freedom plan only works when your house is clean, your kids are quiet, and you’ve had eight hours of sleep… it’s not gonna last.

Think of it like a road trip:

You don’t hope your GPS will figure it all out. You plan your route. You bring snacks. You charge your phone. You expect construction zones and potty breaks.

👉 Why it matters:
If your plan only works under ideal circumstances, it’s not a sustainable plan. Your food freedom journey has to leave room for real life.

🙋‍♀️ Accountability Is Stronger Than Willpower

Let’s just squash this one real quick: You do NOT have a willpower problem.

You are not weak. You are not lazy. You are not broken.

You just weren’t meant to do this alone.

Accountability gives you:

• Direction
  
  
• Encouragement
  
  
• Consistency
  
  

Think of that friend who texts you:

“Hey, I’m outside!” 🚗💨

You’re not hopping out of bed because you suddenly feel motivated to go for a walk.
You go because someone is with you.

That’s the power of accountability.
It reminds you that you’re not doing this alone—and helps you keep moving forward, even when progress feels slow.

💛 Group Accountability Changes the Game

Now let’s take it a step further.

If one friend is helpful… imagine what an entire group of like-minded, Jesus-loving women could do.

Group coaching isn’t just about guidance.

It’s about connection. Encouragement. Perspective. Healing. 👭

Think about this:

Have you ever done a devotional on your own… and then done the same one in a women’s group?

Alone, it’s powerful.
But in a group? You hear new insights. You ask better questions. You feel supported. And you get to watch God work in the lives of others—right in front of you.

👉 Why it matters:
Freedom grows in safe spaces. And when someone else says, “Me too”—shame starts to fall away. 🙌

🎯 Quick Recap: You Don’t Need to Try Harder—You Need THIS 👇🏻

Here’s what I want you to take with you today:

• You need a plan that fits your real life.
  
  
• You need people who get what you’re walking through.
  
  
• And you need the truth: Motivation is optional. But consistency, grace, and accountability? That’s what changes everything.
  
  

🙌 Ready to Stop Doing This Alone?

If you’re DONE with food guilt, body obsession, and the lie that you just need more willpower…

✨ I want to personally invite you to apply for Joy-Filled Eater LIVE—my signature group coaching program for Christian women who are ready for real, lasting food & body freedom.

Inside this 6-month group experience, you’ll get:

• Weekly live coaching from me (Hi, friend 👋)
  
  
• Lifetime access to my signature curriculum designed just for Christian women
  
  
• A private, faith-filled community of women who are walking the same road
  
  
• Bonus coworking calls, Q&A sessions, and tangible support every single week
  
  

🎉 This is where strategy meets sisterhood.
And trust me—freedom’s waiting. You just have to take the next step.

👉 Enroll now to join us inside The Joy-Filled Eater LIVE

📝 Final Words (and a hug from me in blog form 🫂)

That’s a wrap, sweet friend!

I hope today reminded you that:

• You’re not lazy.
  
  
• You’re not failing.
  
  
• You’re just human.
  
  

And humans? We need support.
You don’t have to wait for the “perfect” moment. You don’t need to feel 100% ready.

You are allowed to take that next step—even if your knees are shaking.

So go ahead—chase joy. Choose freedom.
And I’ll be right here cheering you on every step of the way. 💛

👇 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!

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With grace & joy,

Brittany Braswell, MS, RDN, LD

Registered Dietitian + Faith-Filled Food Freedom & Body Image Coach